Are you dealing with foot or ankle pain? Is your quality of life changing? At Advanced Foot and Ankle Specialists in Schaumburg, Chicago, Elgin, Crystal Lake, and Huntley, Illinois, your team of five expert podiatrists can help, and treatment may be simpler than you think. Read here about some painful foot and ankle conditions.

When it hurts...

Make an appointment with Advanced Foot and Ankle Specialists. Your podiatrist will inspect your feet and ankles, note their skin texture and color and observe any areas of soreness, deformity, blistering or other problems. As needed, he will take digital X-rays or other special imaging to visualize internal structures, and he may do a gait analysis, too, to understand your balance and how you place your feet as you walk.

Foot and ankle pain

Many times, foot and ankle pain results from overuse. You simply are on your feet too long throughout the day, or perhaps as an avid athlete, you have overtrained, causing stress fractures, tendonitis, or other inflammatory conditions which are acute and limited. Other uncomfortable problems involve the skin and toenails: toenail fungus, athlete's foot, corns, calluses and ingrown toenails are prime examples.

Additionally, poorly structured footwear causes foot and ankle pain. Good arch support, ample room in the toe box and heels of a sensible height (no higher than two to two and a half inches, says the American Podiatric Medical Association) keep your lower extremities comfortable and protected from injury.

Other foot and ankle pain comes from deformity and disease. These problems include:

Diabetic neuropathy-cramping, tingling, burning pain in the feet

Bunion, a bulging of the metatarsophalangeal joint at the base of the big toe

Arthritis, particularly "wear and tear" arthritis

Heel spurs--often associated with bunions

Neuromas, an enlargement of a nerve bundle typically between the third and fourth toes

If you're in pain, please don't wait. The team at Advanced Foot and Ankle Specialists will uncover the problem, formulate treatment and get you on your feet again. Call one of our five locations today for a convenient appointment.